I've not seen too many EC matches, so my view may be skewed, but this match was incredible. That sequence in the middle up until Sheamus was eliminated was some of the best stuff I've seen in a long time.

I've been marking out for Bryan since SummerSlam, and I don't mark out for anything. And it's not even that I like Bryan that much. They're gonna do something special at Mania, and I can't wait. Lots of Angry Orton girls (and guys too) tonight.

Bad news. Daniel Bryan lost again. But I'm afraid I've got some good news. Daniel Bryan is going to the title match at Wrestlemania. I promise.

Daniel Bryan made it to the end of the Elimination Chamber, had Randy Orton pinned with the Goat 2 Sleep, Kane broke up the pin, Bryan kicked out of the RKO, was about to win again, Kane hit him again and he got pinned. Then Michael Cole lost his shit over the injustice and how upset the crowd was. Lawler said everyone thought it was Daniel's night. The PPV ended with shots of Dismayed Members Of The WWE Universe. "How much more of this does Daniel Bryan have to suffer through? He's the runner-up again! It's been heartbreaking, it's been frustrating, it's been going on since SummerSlam, and at some point, it's gotta stop!"

It sounds like Daniel Bryan needs someone in charge of Wrestlemania who could even the playing field.

Someone who feels strong about right and wrong.

Someone who don't take trouble for very long.

Who's gotta take a stand.

Who can't let it slide.

Who'll FIGHT FOR WHAT'S RIGHT, FIGHT FOR OUR LIFE.

It's happening. I ... think. Not just after all that, but after Batista once again got the Universe Treatment. Alberto Del Rio was more popular in his match with Batista than he was in his entire run as the #1 babyface on Smackdown. Si chants, an actual "Boo Tis Ta" chant which will surely become a thing now -- the only thing missing was "Thank You Viscera." There's blood in the water on poor Dave Batista and there's not gonna be any fixing it. They even tried to rig him a better response by having Del Rio fake an injury before the match and attack him with a crutch -- to cheers of encouragement. Fortunately, like the Honky Tonk Man, American Made Hulk Hogan, Rocky Maivia, and Shane McMahon's WCW, he can easily roll with this right into a top heel run.

This was a strong show, the first one in a long time. Really the first thing I should've been talking about was Wyatts vs. Shield, which lived up to the hype and then some.

Fans were jack dupp for the six-man, going nuts before the bell rang, dueling chants, pandemonium, Roman Reigns being taken to as a major star. It was a special atmosphere for a great match that felt like more than just a great match. Luke Harper did a dive, yo. It's actually a shame that the Shield can't stay together as a babyface force, because they were so awesome, Rollins in particular. The finish saw Rollins get ********HBOMBED******** through the table, then Ambrose brawled into the crowd with Bray. Bray eventually returned, leaving Reigns 3-on-1. He broke Sister Abigail with sheer Reignitude but eventually fell victim to the Damn Numbers Game, Shield style, and was pinned by Bray. As soon as this makes it up on the Network, seek this one out.

No Shield breakup, and I think a rematch is coming tomorrow. Unfortunately, it's not coming at Wrestlemania. Because later that night, the Wyatts teleported into the Elimination Chamber and beat up Cena and Bryan, leading to John's ousting. Fair enough.

The Chamber itself was the expected collection of hard work, cool inventive spots, and dangerous bumps. Christian successfully silenced the skeptics by not only making it the match without getting jumped and having his pod stolen, but pinning Sheamus clean with a frog splash off said pod.

If you'll notice, Chamber matches are always laid out t-ball style where everyone goes home with a prize. This, Sheamus was first in with Cesaro and got plenty to do to shine, including Brogue kicking Orton's pod down. Bryan eliminated Christian next with the knee. This left Bryan, Cesaro, Orton, and Cena, and it was treated like The Present Colliding With The Future. Cesaro unfortunately did not get to be the one to pin Cena, but like I said, t-ball rules, so he started the match and got many showcase spots, including a 30-rotator on Randy. He was out after an FU onto the plexiglass and an STF. (Cena's t-ball concession was one elimination and having Orton once again beaten when the interloping interferers struck.)

The undercard was fine. Big E and Swagger had an above average midcard match with Langston doing a cool tackle through the ropes to the floor. Swagger was cheered though. The Outlaws retained the titles but I think the Usos are still getting them soon, possibly even tomorrow night (if only because NAO don't really deserve a Wrestlemania payoff). AJ and Cameron had some All Japan Pro Wrestling-esque psychology with them stealing each other's taunts.

Also, Bad News Barrett had a ton of news to break, 3 or 4 segments. And he got some bad news when the tower of decorum malfunctioned and he couldn't take it up anymore. But he handled it smoothly, saying that this would just give him more time to deliver Bad News.

Final thought. It was Kane who did all the interfering in the Chamber, not Triple H. Insane World Logic might say that mean it's leading to Bryan/Kane, but, well, it's just not. And I don't take that to mean it's leading to Bryan/HHH, since they'd have put the heat of the screwery back on Hunter again if it was. So ... I take that as a hunch that Triple H got an opponent back.

Well hunt that six man down, because it was incredible. Most of the rest of the show was really good, too! The lower card stuff was fine, although Batista spent most of the match lying down and the crowd booed his offense.

But that Elimination Chamber match, though. Great stuff from everybody, in that super awesome WWE multi-man match way where people run around all over the place and do awesome moves. And Christian hits what might be his only PPV Killswitch this calendar year!

But holy crap if they don't find some way to salvage Batista, or change their minds on Orton vs Batista at Wrestlemania, that match is going to be really interesting, but not in the way that anybody really wants.

edit: I'd be remiss on not mentioning how sad I felt for Larry The Axe Hennig in the pre-show match. He just looked SO despondent. :(

Ladies and gentlemen, the following public service message is brought to you by your friends from D-Generation X, who would like to remind each and every one of you that if you're not down with that, we've got two words for you...Vince has to know he's down to his last chance on Bryan. If he doesn't do the right thing (put Bryan in the WM main event tomorrow night, put the belt on him at WM, and run with him as the guy for a good long stretch), I say a nice healthy portion of the fanbase is going to start tuning out for "good". Trying Batista out as a heel champ is just the same thing we've gotten since Summerslam, only with someone who's taller, bulkier, and only marginally less of a douchebag.

Unlike people who've posted here so far, I don't have faith in Vince to do the right thing, and I fear we're getting Bryan/Kane or Bryan/HHH and a replay of Brock/Goldberg in the WM main event. But we'll see. Either way the game is up at WM, because even the most Kool-Aided mark at this point would agree Bryan's chase has gone on long enough.

My one regret is that my continued boycott of WWE programming is forcing me to miss awesome matches like that Shield/Wyatt tilt reportedly was.

smark/net attack Advisory System Status is: Elevated(Holds; June 18, 2006)While the switch from Cena to RVD should alleviate some complaints, the inevitability of the belt's return to Cena (note where Summerslam is this year) and the poor initial showing by the new ECW are enough to keep the indicator where it is for now. The pieces are in place, though, especially on RAW, for improvements to be made to the IWC's psyche in the near future.

Originally posted by Texas KellyVince has to know he's down to his last chance on Bryan. If he doesn't do the right thing (put Bryan in the WM main event tomorrow night, put the belt on him at WM, and run with him as the guy for a good long stretch), I say a nice healthy portion of the fanbase is going to start tuning out for "good". Trying Batista out as a heel champ is just the same thing we've gotten since Summerslam, only with someone who's taller, bulkier, and only marginally less of a douchebag.

Unlike people who've posted here so far, I don't have faith in Vince to do the right thing, and I fear we're getting Bryan/Kane or Bryan/HHH and a replay of Brock/Goldberg in the WM main event. But we'll see. Either way the game is up at WM, because even the most Kool-Aided mark at this point would agree Bryan's chase has gone on long enough.

My one regret is that my continued boycott of WWE programming is forcing me to miss awesome matches like that Shield/Wyatt tilt reportedly was.

Living in Louisiana and having waited 20+ years for Mania to be in the Superdome, I'm beating traffic if Orton/Bootista is the main event.

I did not expect to see this show, but my nephew ordered it at the last minute, so score!

I missed the divas and Batista matches due to running out for food, but I really liked everything else (aside from the tag title and world title finishes).

I'm all in with Shapiro. I really think SOMETHING is happening with Bryan. I bought into the finishing sequence, hook, line, and sinker, so clearly, I'm still emotionally invested. Seriously, I was jumping out of my seat at times.

The Elimination Chamber match itself was ace. Great spots and everyone worked their asses off. And I think, in a vacuum, even the finish was fine. But coming on top of all the other stuff that's happened with Bryan, of course we're going to crap all over it.

Holy hell that Shield/Wyatts match. I want to watch it about eight more times. It was like an indie six-man translated perfectly to the big stage. Reigns is amazing. I want to see him and Cesaro Superpunch/Euro-uppercut the entire roster.

So yeah, things may be screwy politically, or not. We don't really know. What we do know is that the in-ring product is the best it's been in a LONG TIME (three, maybe four match of the year candidates by February 24th), and that's why I'm ordering the Network in the morning.

(edited by SchippeWreck on 23.2.14 2139)"It's magic! We don't need to explain it!"

Shield/Wyatts exceeded my expectations. Easily, the best match I've seen this year. They all worked extremely well together. I want more.

The EC match was also excellent. Some great spots in there, like the brogue kick through the plexiglass. I'm rather surprised Christian actually made it into the match. I was expecting either Lesnar or Bootista to somehow get his spot. Cesaro getting to shine was also good to see. He deserves it more than Bryan, I think, but what do I know.

The troll in me was eagerly anticipating Bryan getting eliminated first. By Cena. That would have been so awesome. That crowd would have rioted.

I'm actually pleased that Shield/Wyatts took place here rather than at Wrestlemania, since here they got the time for a nice long match. At Mania, I worry they only would've gotten 10 minutes given all the shilling/musical performances/celebrity crap that wastes time on that show.

I'd also love to see the Shield stay together as faces for a while since MAN are they ever over in this role. They can eventually still split up via an Ambrose heel re-turn but having the Shield suddenly get sick of working for the Authority would be a money-printing angle.

"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." --- Bart Giamatti, on baseball

"Boo! Tis! Ta!" chant, Minnesota you're cool. I wonder who got blown out quicker in their return match, The Rock at the Rumble last year or Batista at Elimination Chamber this year. Del Rio basically wrestled a sandbag.

Damn man that Diva's match.... Vince you should of listened to Austin on the first elimination of the last season of Tough Enough.

The Shield v. Wyatt match wore me out. They could of seriously pushed that into a rematch at Mania. Everyone looked great, the hell happened to Ambrose anyway?

Luke Harper dive!

Desperate Christian is pretty cool. There is something about a guy just out of options and time willing to almost kill himself for a win that is so intriguing to me.

There is no way Mania doesn't end with Bryan standing in the middle of the ring with two titles after this. Did I mention how much I love chicken shit Orton? Him locking himself back in the pod started a chant I've never heard on a wrestling show before. I hope they found that cat.

Man the We Want Lesnar chants. I really wished he would've came out and F5'ed Titus O'Neal and Darren Young. The Uso that took that hard hip toss into the turnbuckle looked like he got hurt for real.... why are the Old Age Outlaws still champions? Ugh. Wyatt vs Shield was SO AWESOME. Crowd were chanting "Let's go Wyatt/Let's go Shield." Even though Roman Reigns took the pinfall he still looked strong trying to beat 3 guys by himself. LOL at "RIP Spanish Announce Table" trending. Guess Bray Wyatt vs Cena is a lock for Wrestlemania since they caused him to be eliminated. Crowd chants "Thank You, Wyatt." When I saw Kane, I knew Daniel was going to lose and I'm so worried it'll be Daniel Bryan vs Kane at Wrestlemania.

Originally posted by CruelAngel777Everyone looked great, the hell happened to Ambrose anyway?

Here is what happened to him. He was on the floor right in front of me for a looong time, just playing dead. The funniest thing was this little girl screaming "Get up Dean! I believe in you!" Oh man, that was priceless.

Tonight really is the last chance saloon as far as getting people to buy that they're not just going to fuck Bryan over. By the end of the night they need to either have him in the title match, or have him booked for a match next week to earn his way in. If they've got Punk back then next week is the better option, as they can have him be the surprise equalizer and get all their ducks back in a row for his match with HHH.

I must be taking crazy pills. Let me save some of you some money today and in April. Wrestlemania is now locked. Its going to be Kane/Bryan and HHH gets no match considering he was retired two years ago. Batista/Orton is probably going to get Flair add to mix and thats about it. Cena will beat the Wyatt family with a broken arm and help from Hulkamania. There is also no need to get the WWE network today. Its rather silly when you can wait and get SummerSlam for free if you ordered it in April.

The next six weeks will be all about Hogan coming back, Lesnar/Taker, Orton crying about how no one respects him, Batista being booed, Shield breaking up, Daniel getting screwed over and Cena beating the Wyatt family prior to Mania and then killing them at Mania.

Vince doesn't care, because he has your money and you are still giving it to him. Wyatt/Shield was great, but it was for nothing. Instead of one of them having the titles, the New Age Outlaws. TNA has a better younger team as their tag champs, TNA who is its death throws if you believe the IWC. There is trolling the fans to get some form of cheap press than there is handing out favors to your friends at the expense of your company who by the way, barely made a profit last quarter and now dropped by DISH, so the buyrate for this is probably not good either.

I have no idea where this blind devotion that they will get Bryan right when there is zero evidence they can.

(edited by lotjx on 24.2.14 0737)The Wee Baby Sheamus.Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.

Originally posted by lotjxI must be taking crazy pills. Let me save some of you some money today and in April. Wrestlemania is now locked. Its going to be Kane/Bryan and HHH gets no match considering he was retired two years ago. Batista/Orton is probably going to get Flair add to mix and thats about it. Cena will beat the Wyatt family with a broken arm and help from Hulkamania. There is also no need to get the WWE network today. Its rather silly when you can wait and get SummerSlam for free if you ordered it in April.

The next six weeks will be all about Hogan coming back, Lesnar/Taker, Orton crying about how no one respects him, Batista being booed, Shield breaking up, Daniel getting screwed over and Cena beating the Wyatt family prior to Mania and then killing them at Mania.

Vince doesn't care, because he has your money and you are still giving it to him. Wyatt/Shield was great, but it was for nothing. Instead of one of them having the titles, the New Age Outlaws. TNA has a better younger team as their tag champs, TNA who is its death throws if you believe the IWC. There is trolling the fans to get some form of cheap press than there is handing out favors to your friends at the expense of your company who by the way, barely made a profit last quarter and now dropped by DISH, so the buyrate for this is probably not good either.

I have no idea where this blind devotion that they will get Bryan right when there is zero evidence they can.

Originally posted by lotjxI must be taking crazy pills. Let me save some of you some money today and in April. Wrestlemania is now locked. Its going to be Kane/Bryan and HHH gets no match considering he was retired two years ago. Batista/Orton is probably going to get Flair add to mix and thats about it. Cena will beat the Wyatt family with a broken arm and help from Hulkamania. There is also no need to get the WWE network today. Its rather silly when you can wait and get SummerSlam for free if you ordered it in April.

The next six weeks will be all about Hogan coming back, Lesnar/Taker, Orton crying about how no one respects him, Batista being booed, Shield breaking up, Daniel getting screwed over and Cena beating the Wyatt family prior to Mania and then killing them at Mania.

Vince doesn't care, because he has your money and you are still giving it to him. Wyatt/Shield was great, but it was for nothing. Instead of one of them having the titles, the New Age Outlaws. TNA has a better younger team as their tag champs, TNA who is its death throws if you believe the IWC. There is trolling the fans to get some form of cheap press than there is handing out favors to your friends at the expense of your company who by the way, barely made a profit last quarter and now dropped by DISH, so the buyrate for this is probably not good either.

I have no idea where this blind devotion that they will get Bryan right when there is zero evidence they can.

(edited by lotjx on 24.2.14 0737)

Did you even watch the chamber match? If so, did you listen to Michael Cole (especially at the end of the PPV)? It is now more than obvious to everyone but you that D-Bryan will somehow wrestle for the WWE World Championship at Mania. #YesMovement